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Higher education

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Original poster

which A levels for law for numerate child ?

58 replies

11plusNewbie · 10/02/2025 13:57

my daughter has been talking about studying law for a long time, currently year 10, except she likes and is very able in maths/physics. she has never studied latin and has dropped History for GCSE but is doing RPE (Religion, Philosophy and Ethics).
Any thoughts on suitable A level subject choice please?
Maths/Physics are her current favorite, she is even talking about taking Chemistry. How would that put her for applying to law ?
Perhaps she could look at economics instead of chemistry ?
She is bilingual in an European language but would not take it for A level.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Buttonless · 10/02/2025 14:02

Maths and another science would be good subjects, plus one essay-based subject or language. RPE would be good.

neverthelastone · 10/02/2025 14:04

Any combination of those would be good - universities like traditional academic subjects for Law (and not Law A-level). Maths/Physics fine. Economics, Chemistry or RE/Philosophy all good too - potentially Economics or Philosophy might be more useful for thinking about legal problems?

Tiswa · 10/02/2025 14:04

Agree I did maths English and Psychology but nearly did chemistry

she needs one essay based - and if she doesn’t like essays law is not for her

Radiatorvalves · 10/02/2025 14:04

Agree she should do subjects she enjoys and will do well at. Chemistry could be useful if she wants to do IP law. However at least one essay subject would be sensible.

stubiff · 10/02/2025 14:23

When I read the title I was thinking History or English, but she's dropped History.
Some essay based subject, as Law is a lot of reading and writing!

Houseflatboatplanejump · 10/02/2025 14:24

I don't know the specifics around law but my dt have just chosen alevels for September. They were advised (by two sixth forms) to look at the universities/courses they may wish to study at and work back from there. This really helped dt1 as she wasn't sure on 3rd alevel but several universities had a similar position.
Dt2 was persuaded against all maths /science advising on 1 'essay based' and has gone for economics.

Dt2 maths teacher has also suggested an epq (if the universities they look at will accept because it also proves essay writing skills).

poetryandwine · 10/02/2025 17:04

I am biased because I am in STEM. However Maths and Physics are both generally well regarded by Law admissions tutors for the analytical skills they develop. Recently someone contributed to a thread here that her Oxbridge tutor was enormously impressed by her Physics A level. It helped distinguish her within the applicant pool. Chemistry would fulfil the same function, I think. But Maths and Physics fit together more satisfactorily, if that matters.

In America, Law is a PG subject and Maths is an esteemed UG degree programme for applicants. However all students there do essay subjects as UGs and I agree with everyone that one essay subject is important.

I am a former admissions tutor; we like to help. DD should look up Entry Requirements at a few Schools that appeal to her and if she has any questions she should email the admissions team. The listed contact person is fine as they will route her message properly. Best wishes to her

DingDingRound3 · 10/02/2025 17:05

Would she not do a conversion?

Cakeandusername · 10/02/2025 20:50

Some law degrees specify one essay subject, some have no requirements.

Some universities require a law aptitude exam lnat taken in yr 13.

Another option is a stem degree and postgraduate law conversion, can be very in demand in certain areas eg intellectual property.

stemfuturelawyers.co.uk/

Twiglets1 · 10/02/2025 20:53

Maths, Physics and one essay subject, maybe Philosophy & Ethics.

SpanielsSunflowersSand · 10/02/2025 20:57

My A-levels were in biology, chemistry, business and religious studies.

The universities I applied for didn’t have strict entry criteria in terms of the subjects themselves. I wanted to do medicine initially hence the science subjects but I don’t think my choices hindered me in any way. If anything, they probably set me apart from other students who had gone for the usual English, history and such like.

Original poster
11plusNewbie · 10/02/2025 21:13

DingDingRound3 · 10/02/2025 17:05

Would she not do a conversion?

Edited

@DingDingRound3 she might, I have only told her it could be an option, we are not from the UK and in our county you have to do a law degree. in that case, she may do UG Economics then conversion, I think it would be quite fitting for her. thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
11plusNewbie · 10/02/2025 21:14

SpanielsSunflowersSand · 10/02/2025 20:57

My A-levels were in biology, chemistry, business and religious studies.

The universities I applied for didn’t have strict entry criteria in terms of the subjects themselves. I wanted to do medicine initially hence the science subjects but I don’t think my choices hindered me in any way. If anything, they probably set me apart from other students who had gone for the usual English, history and such like.

that's lovely, are you enjoying it ? did you go straight to law or degree plus conversion ? thank you

OP posts:
SpanielsSunflowersSand · 10/02/2025 21:57

11plusNewbie · 10/02/2025 21:14

that's lovely, are you enjoying it ? did you go straight to law or degree plus conversion ? thank you

Show quote history

I love it! I love a challenge, and no day is ever the same. It is not for everyone but what I would say is that there are so many areas of law, there is usually something for (almost) everyone! I was a paralegal for a few years and I highly recommend it. I did several work experiences which gives you a feel for what to expect.

I would recommend shadowing both barristers and solicitors as their day-to-day can look quite different, and it would also be wise to choose a variety of law firms to get a feel for each. I did not enjoy the magic circle law firms whereas, I know of others who would have sold a kidney to get a job in one of those law firms.

I did my LLB law degree, I then did my LPC and masters part-time over two years whilst I worked 4 days a week as a paralegal. This was not the fast way to qualify but I gained invaluable work experience, and would never have had the level of experience in a court room without those two years.

Mummynextdoor · 11/02/2025 11:22

Some years ago but 3 people at my school studied law at Uni after A levels.

The first did Maths, Chemistry and Physics

The second did History, Geography and Economics

I did Maths, Geography and English Lit.

All of us got multiple Uni offers. The main thing was getting the A grades required to secure the place.m so we took the subjects that we liked and were strong in.

Tiswa · 11/02/2025 11:39

@11plusNewbie what is her end career choice from law - solicitor/barrister/in house council/use it in some other form

because I think I would recommend different routes including whether to do the conversion based on that

NeverDropYourMooncup · 11/02/2025 14:17

Is there any reason why she couldn't take an A level in her other language under the 'community languages' banner?

It's good for the school if she gets a high grade - we've had Year 9 and 10s sit GCSEs and A levels as external candidates for French/Chinese/Polish/etc on many occasions.

BerylG · 11/02/2025 14:29

Admittedly it's over 30 years ago but I did my best subjects to get the grades- maths, chemistry, biology and then did politics for essay writing to balance it out. Served me well in my law degree and subsequently in legal practice.

TizerorFizz · 11/02/2025 15:34

@11plusNewbie I would recommend the advice from Cambridge university “How to choose A level subjects”. She’s already ruled out two of the subjects they recommend. MFL and History. The others they recommend (2 A levels not 3 from this group) are Maths, English. They don’t list a science in the 2 A level group. From the 3rd A level group, Philosophy, Politics, RE. Economics are on the list. So if she’s not doing English or History and wants an additional science, she must choose an essay subject. Obviously she might not want an elite university (LNAT test) but in law you cannot get away from reading and writing! Maths is useful but choose the other two A levels carefully.

Xenia · 11/02/2025 15:42

I did history, English lit and German - history and enligfh lit involve lots of essays etc so are good for law. Those kinds are ruled out for the person here . Perhaps do economics, maths and physics but only if she will get high grades. Maths A level is quite hard unless you are very good - it is an outlier almost, high grades for some but very low for others who should never have tried it.

Most law firms d not even look at you unless you have at least AAB even if you have a first from a good university so the A level grades are going to matter a lot. I did an LLB. I am a lawyer with 4 lawyer children (the twins qualified last year) One of my twin sons did Geography, history and economics (and music AS in lower sixth) and the other Geography history and classical civilisation (and economics AS).

Although you can do a different subject first unless you find a firm to sponsor you that then has a downside - having to fund the conversion year before your other post grad SQE year.

Cakeandusername · 11/02/2025 16:53

Above all for law it’s all about the grades for the top universities plus a good lnat result. So choose subjects she’s got a good chance of A* or A in. If she’s predicted B or lower she won’t get offers.

aei22 · 11/02/2025 16:58

Maths, Physics and English

Maths, Physics, and Economics

Shame history dropped, Maths, Physics, History would have worked.

Xenia · 11/02/2025 16:59

Also one of my lawyer daughters did Chemistry, Economics and Geography (and Physics) and found the sciences harder so I think now wishes she had picked a different set at least as regards Chemistry. The main thing is to do those you in which you will score hire. (There are lots of lawyers on mumsnet so do ask any questions you like; the 4 of my children who are solicitors are amongst so far six of the cousins to study law with possibly another one to come later this year so I seem to be surrounded by young lawyers)

CatherineParr · 11/02/2025 17:13

She could do a level history without gcse history. History is a sensible choice not only as essay based but the principles are similar to law - formation of arguments and use of evidence.

Cakeandusername · 11/02/2025 17:28

Maths, Physics and Religious Studies?
My dc enjoyed RS at A level as it was religion, philosophy and ethics.
The lnat exam is multi choice and an essay. They could pick from several essay titles, she did one about the extent to which state should intervene in religious freedom and had lots of material from RS.